Non-DFI Entities

The following types of business organization are not filed with the Department of Financial Institutions. Other public record custodians, such as the county Register of Deeds,
may accept a notice or statement for record under the provisions of sections 134.17 and 178.39 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

A general partnership is an association to 2 or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit. It may operate under a partnership agreement, customarily created in consultation with a legal advisor.
The agreement may be recorded with the county Register of Deeds, but is not required to be. General partnerships are not filed with the department.

A business conducted by a sole proprietor has no existence apart from its owner. They are not filed with the department. A sole proprietor may elect to file a statement with respect to its use of a business name
with the county Register of Deeds, or may file a tradename with the DFI.